‘Education protests are a ray of hope for us all’

Lee Hall is a playwright, well known for writing the film Billy Elliot. He has signed the statement supporting the Millbank protesters and spoke to Socialist Worker about his excitement over the student demonstrations:

“The government has no mandate for what it is doing—the Lib Dems have completely discredited the political process—so what are people meant to do? The government is condemning future generations to destitution.

“I think a lot of people saw the protests and thought ‘these people represent us all’. It was such a forceful demo—a ray of hope.

“So it’s essential that people do this, the demonstrations have to be the start of something else.

“It’s exciting. We haven’t had a voice for so long, but this is a sign we can resist. The poll tax riots show it is possible.

“I was on the poll tax riots in 1990 and was arrested. The police tried to fit me up and failed. They’ll try and make scapegoats but we can stand together as a mass of people.

“That’s why I want to be involved in the defence campaign for all those arrested.”